Md. Nurse Stopping To Help Crash Victims Falls Off Bridge
FREDRICK, Md. (WJZ) -- An act of heroism nearly turned to tragedy for a Maryland nurse after she fell off a bridge into the Monocacy River.
Angie Weir says she did what she was trained to do... try to help others. But being a hero nearly turned deadly, WJZ's Rick Ritter reports.
A tractor trailer and dump truck collided in Frederick County. Maryland State Police say it happened around 5 a.m. Wednesday along I-70 at the Monocacy River bridge.
Witnesses say a commercial truck was driving without any lights illuminating it, and a tractor trailer slammed into its back before jackknifing and catching fire.
That's when 47-year-old Angela Weir--a registered nurse at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center--was driving by with her husband and immediately pulled over to help.
"I'm not trained as a first responder, but I know could at least probably do something," Weir said.
Weir jumped over the barrier--thinking there was a median on the other side--but instead, she plummeted six stories into the river.
"I just grabbed the Jersey barrier and hopped over it, and my feet didn't hit anything, and I knew that I was falling," she said.
She says after roughly 90-minutes, a responding trooper finally pulled her to shore.
"A lady heard me calling, and I think that's when she said, 'There's somebody down there.' They couldn't find me because I was under the brush," said Weir.
Weir was airlifted to Shock Trauma, and somehow survived. She says if someone is in need again, despite the scare, it would be hard to think twice.
"I don't think I could probably not get out of the car, but I will probably do it much slower," said Weir.
Weir suffered some injuries, including a few minor fractures and some bruises. She is expected to recover just fine.
The University of Maryland Medical Center released the following statement regarding Weir:
"Angie is a fabulous nurse, and we are not at all surprised that she risked her own life to save others. We are so grateful that she is OK. Every day she delivers compassionate and expert care to her patients in the Critical Care Resuscitation Unit at the University of Maryland Medical Center. She exemplifies the highest qualities of nursing and selflessness, and we are so proud to call her one of our own."
The two drivers involved in the accident were identified as Charles Williams, of Baltimore, and Douglas Sexton, of Sparrows Point. Both were transported to the hospital -- Williams in serious condition and Sexton with non-life threatening injuries.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation. State police say charges are pending.
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